'Shocking! PM never met MTUC leaders'

&#147;I am shocked to learn from MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud that
in his 44 months as prime minister, Abdullah never met with MTUC leaders despite
repeated requests for a dialogue,&#148; he told a press conference at the Parliament
lobby.
<p>According to Lim, this casts an adverse reflection on the premier&#146;s inclinations
and sympathies.</p>
<p>&#147;A pro-labour prime minister would have had several meetings with MTUC
leaders already in the three years and eight months Abdullah has been prime
minister,&#148; he said.</p>
<p>The opposition leader urged the premier to immediately rectify this &#145;failing&#146;
in his leadership.</p>
<p>Lim also said that MTUC had presented a seven-page memorandum to Abdullah a
week before the union carried out a nationwide picket on Monday, but the memorandum
did not elicit any appropriate response from Abdullah.</p>
<p>On Monday, MTUC staged a nationwide picket in 14 locations after discussions
with the government on its campaign for a minimum wage of RM900 and cost of
living (Cola) of RM300 for private sector employees came to a deadlock.</p>
<p>Lim said Abdullah&#146;s first priority upon returning from his official visit
to Russia, Italy and Bosnia should be to meet with MTUC leaders.</p>
<p>&#147;Abdullah should initiate a tripartite dialogue on MTUC&#146;s demand
for minimum wage and Cola for private sector workers to avert a large scale
industrial action which would not be conducive to enhancing Malaysia&#146;s
international competitiveness,&#148; he said.</p>
<p><b>Fostering integrity</b></p>
<p>Meanwhile, Lim also urged Abdullah to ensure that all ministers and deputy
ministers read a book titled National Integrity System.</p>
<p>He said the book, commissioned by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity, was
launched in May by the prime minister.</p>
<p>&#147;It talks about the role of various parties, including the executive,
in contributing to national integrity.</p>
<p>&#147;The executive plays a role in building, maintaining and respecting the
country&#146;s integrity system,&#148; he said, adding that a clear leadership
and political will are needed to maintain a clean government.</p>
<p>Citing the example of a deputy minister from Sarawak who is under police probe
for his alleged involvement in gangsterism, Lim urged him to come forward and
explain.</p>
<p>&#147;A deputy minister who dare not openly answer questions on whether he
is investigated by the police does not foster the culture of integrity,&#148;
he said.</p>
<p>Nobody is condemning him as guilty, but the question is whether or not he is
under investigation, he added.</p>
<p>&#147;The public is interested to know if a deputy minister is under police
investigation,&#148; said Lim, who also urged Abdullah to disclose the name
of this deputy minister.</p>
<p>On June 25, The Star reported that a deputy minister and a senior politician
in Sarawak are under police probe for alleged involvement in gangsterism, illegal
logging and attempted bribery of senior police officers.</p>
<p><i>Source: http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/69208</i>